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What Solar Panels Are The Most Efficient?

If you want to maximize the value of your solar panel system, then you need to choose the most efficient solar panels. Today, solar panels from top manufactures can vary as much as 20% in terms of electricity consumption.

Today, we’re going to help you decide what solar panels are the most efficient – and which solar panels provide the best option for your home.

What Exactly Is Efficiency?

For most of this article, we’re going to assume that “efficiency” refers to the ability of a solar panel to produce energy.

In the world of photovoltaic (PV) systems, efficiency is typically given as a percentage. One solar panel may have a 21% efficiency rating, for example, while the other has a 14% efficiency rating. In practical terms, that means the panel with the 21% efficiency rating will produce 50% more kilowatt hours (kWh) of electricity than the 14% efficiency panel – assuming the panels are the same size and under the same conditions.

Obviously, that’s a big difference. That’s why solar panel efficiency is so important. In fact, most people in the solar industry consider efficiency to be the most important factor when buying solar panels.

What’s a Good and Bad Efficiency Rating?

Today, the market’s leading solar panels have an efficiency rating of around 22 to 24%. That’s considered an exceptionally good solar panel.

The majority of solar panels have an efficiency rating between 15% and 17%. Some of the cheapest solar panels have efficiency ratings below 15%. We’ll talk about specific brands and their efficiency ratings down below.

Which Efficiency Do You Need? Consider Roof Space

Many homeowners forget how important roof space is when buying solar panels. It’s particularly important when you’re considering efficiency.

Think of it like this: do you want maximum production – or maximum offset? In layman’s terms, do you want to produce as much electricity as possible? Or do you want to produce electricity as efficiently as possible?

The best way to answer this question is to consider roof size. If you have a large roof, then you can save money by installing a greater number of average-efficiency solar panels. If you have a smaller roof, however, then choosing high-efficiency solar panels will help you maximize that roof space.

Basically, the less roof space you have, the more important efficiency becomes.

Do You Really Save Money By Buying Efficient Solar Panels?

The final thing to consider with solar panels is whether or not you’re really going to save money by buying more efficient solar panels. Obviously, efficient solar panels cost more than less-efficient alternatives. Can you justify paying $5,000 more in installation costs today just to save $50 off your annual electricity bill?

Ultimately, it’s your goal to find a sweet spot between efficiency and price. To help you find that sweet spot, we’ve listed some of the most efficient solar panel brands down below.

What Company Makes the Most Efficient Solar Panels?

Solar panel brands vary widely in terms of efficiency and price. The fact that a solar panel is inefficient doesn’t mean it’s automatically “worse” than a more efficient solar panel: sometimes, these solar panels are priced hundreds of dollars apart. Nevertheless, here’s a basic overview of which brands build the most and least efficient solar panels, including the efficiency range for each company:

Most Efficient (Over 21%)

Panasonic (19 to 21.6%)

SunPower (19.1 to 22.2%)

Very Efficient (19 to 21%)

Heliene Inc. (15.6% to 19.3%)

LG (16.8% to 19.5%)

Panasonic (19% to 21.6%)

Solaria (18.7% to 19.3%)

SunPower (19.1% to 22.2%)

Medium Efficiency (17 to 19%)

Canadian Solar (15.88% to 17.72%)

CentroSolar (15.3% to 17.8%)

ET Solar (15.37% to 17.52%)

Grape Solar (16.21% to 17.64%)

Hanwha Q Cells (15.9% to 18.3%)

Heliene Inc. (15.6% to 19.3%)

Itek Energy (16.49% to 18.94%)

LG (16.8% to 19.5%)

Mission Solar (15.98% to 18.36%)

Renogy Solar (15.3% to 18.5%)

Seraphim (15.67% to 17.52%)

Silevo (16.9% to 18.5%)

Silfab (15.3% to 18.4%)

Solaria (18.7% to 19.3%)

SolarWorld (14.91% to 17.59%)

Suniva (16.66% to 17.65%)

Trina Solar (15.2% to 17.8%)

Less Efficient (15 to 17%)

Amerisolar (14.75% to 17.01%)

Axitec (15.37% to 16.9%)

Canadian Solar (15.88% to 17.72%)

CentroSolar (15.3% to 17.8%)

China Sunergy (14.98% to 16.53%)

ET Solar (15.37% to 17.52%)

Grape Solar (16.21% to 17.64%)

Green Brilliance (14.24% to 15.58%)

Hanwha Q Cells (15.9% to 18.3%)

Hanwha SolarOne (14.7% to 16.2%)

Heliene Inc. (15.6% to 19.3%)

Hyundai (14.2% to 16.5%)

Itek Energy (16.49% to 18.98%)

Kyocera (14.75% to 16.11%)

LG (16.8% to 19.5%)

Mission Solar (15.98% to 18.36%)

Mitsubishi Electric (16.3% to 16.9%)

REC Solar (14.5% to 17%)

ReneSola (14.9% to 16.9%)

Renogy Solar (15.3% to 18.5%)

Seraphim (15.67% to 17.52%)

Silevo (16.9% to 18.5%)

Silfab (15.3% to 18.4%)

SolarWorld (14.91% to 17.59%)

SunEdison (15.5% to 16.8%)

Suniva (16.66% to 17.65%)

Trina Solar (15.2% to 17.8%)

Least Efficient (Less than 15%)

Amerisolar (14.75% to 17.01%)

Green Brilliance (14.24% to 15.58%)

Hanwha SolarOne (14.7% to 16.2%)

Heliene Inc. (15.6% to 19.3%)

Hyundai (14.2% to 16.5%)

Kyocera (14.75% to 16.11%)

REC Solar (14.5% to 17%)

ReneSola (14.9% to 16.9%)

SolarWorld (14.91% to 17.59%)

Stion (12.4% to 14%)

There are some things to consider about this list. First, each category is in alphabetical order. The fact that Panasonic is listed ahead of SunPower at the very top doesn’t mean anything. At the same time, some companies are listed in multiple categories. That’s because companies like Heliene Inc. make a wide variety of solar panels at different efficiency levels and budgets. Heliene’s cheapest solar panels have an efficiency below 15%, for example, but their more expensive solar panels are some of the best in the world.

The Most Efficient Solar Panel Has Not Yet Been Made

As with any technological innovation, solar panels have increased in efficiency over time – and they’ll continue to become more efficient over the next few decades.

Scientists created a photovoltaic (PV) cell with a conversion efficiency of 40.7%, for example, according to the US Department of Energy. That was a significant achievement, as breaking the 40% efficiency barrier had been a goal for a very long time.

Meanwhile on the consumer market, SunPower created a solar panel with a 24.1% efficiency rating in 2016. The US Department of Energy, by the way, created their 40.7% efficiency cell all the way back in 2006 – so it takes a very long time for this technology to appear on consumer markets.

In the consumer markets, we’re unlikely to see efficiency ratings above 30% for a very long time. You may be tempted to wait until more efficient solar panels are released. However, you’re just playing a loser’s game: the efficiency of virtually any technology is going to improve over time. Ultimately, the best time to buy solar panels was yesterday. The second best time to buy solar panels is today.

By following the guides listed above, you can learn what solar panels are the most efficient – and how important efficiency should be to you.

Solar Melon specializes in helping homeowners and renters make the switch to solar energy. Solar panels not only will help you protect the planet, they will also help you save hundreds on your energy bill.

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